Local Strategic Planning Statement A Plan for 2040 (Final October 2020) TRIM: Contents Strategic Context 20 Year Vision Planning Priorities Action Plan Implementation Appendix Table Table 1: LSPS Planning Priorities ........................................................................................................... 20 Table 2: LSPS Planning Actions - Community Theme ............................................................................ 22 Table 3: LSPS Planning Actions - Economy Theme................................................................................ 24 Table 4: LSPS Planning Actions - Infrastructure Theme ........................................................................ 27 Table 5: LSPS Planning Actions - Environment Theme.......................................................................... 31 Table 6: LSPS Administrative Actions .................................................................................................... 37 Figures Figure 1: Armidale Regional Council Local Government Area NSW Context .......................................... 4 Figure 2: Armidale Regional Council Local Government Area ................................................................ 5 Figure 3: New England North West Regional Plan Extract ...................................................................... 6 Figure 4: LSPS Structure ........................................................................................................................ 14 Figure 5: LSPS Themes .......................................................................................................................... 16 Figure 6: NSW Planning System Strategic-Led Planning Framework .................................................... 35 Figure 7: Local Environmental Plan Related Administrative and Planning Actions .............................. 36 Acknowledgment of Country We acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land and pay our respects to elders past, present and emerging. The Armidale Regional Community pays tribute to their love of land, love of people and love of culture. Page 1 of 41 TRIM: Glossary ARC - Armidale Regional Council CSP - ARC Community Strategic Plan (current version 2017-2027) DP - ARC Delivery Program (current version 2018-2021) DPI&E - Department of Planning, Industry & Environment EP+A Act - Environmental Planning and Assessment Act (1979) ESD - Ecologically Sustainable Development LEP - Local Environmental Plan LGA - Local Government Area LG Act - Local Government Act (1993) LSPS - ARC Local Strategic Planning Statement NENWRP - New England North West Regional Plan (2036) REZ - Renewable Energy Zone TfNSW - Transport for NSW Document Control This version of the Armidale Regional Council Local Strategic Planning Statement has been prepared for the purposes of adoption at the Ordinary Council meeting on 28 October 2020 and referral to the NSW Department of Planning, Industry & Environment for publishing on the NSW Planning Portal. Final: October 2020 - Council Meeting Issue Page 2 of 41 TRIM: Strategic Context Overview The Armidale Regional Local Strategic Planning Statement aims to meet our community’s future social, economic and environmental needs by addressing important strategic land use planning and development issues. The LSPS identifies priorities for the Armidale Regional Local Government Area that will support and develop our local identity, values and opportunities. It will shape our land use over time and the development standards we use. Immediate, short, medium and long term actions have been developed to help deliver on these priorities and our vision for the future. Planning Context The LSPS has been prepared in accordance with Clause 3.9 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 and in response to the associated guidelines issued by the State Government. In March 2018, amendments to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 introduced new requirements for NSW councils to prepare and make local strategic planning statements. Local strategic planning statements are intended to set out: The 20-year vision for land use in the local area; The special characteristics which contribute to local identity; Shared community values to be maintained and enhanced; and How growth and change will be managed into the future. Councils are to show how their vision gives effect to the regional or district plan, based on local characteristics and opportunities, and the council’s own priorities in the community strategic plan it prepares under local government legislation1. In this context, the LSPS has been informed by the New England North West Regional Plan 2036 and the Armidale Regional Community Strategic Plan 2017-2027. Armidale Region Council Local Government Area Armidale Regional Council is a local government area in the New England region of New South Wales, Australia (refer Figure 1). The local government area was proclaimed on 12 May 2016 from the merger of Armidale Dumaresq Council and Guyra Shire Council. It covers an area of 8,621sqkm and has a population exceeding 30,000. 1 EP&A Act section 3.9(2) states that the LSPS must include or identify the following – (a) the basis for strategic planning in the area, having regard to economic, social and environmental matters. Page 3 of 41 TRIM: Figure 1: Armidale Regional Council Local Government Area NSW Context Armidale City is located at the junction of the New England Highway and Waterfall Way, mid-way between Sydney and Brisbane (refer Figure 2). Armidale Airport, the Main North Railway Line and Regional Coach services connect the Armidale Regional LGA to the surrounding regional cities and strategic centres. Other settlements in the local government area include: Guyra; Ben Lomond; Black Mountain; Ebor; Hillgrove; and Wollomombi. In July 2019, Tingha and the surrounding localities of Bassendean, Howell, Stanborough, Georges Creek, New Valley and the Basin (collectively known as “Tingha”) comprising an area of 823 square kilometres was transferred to Inverell Shire Council from Armidale Regional Council via a Local Government Area Boundary adjustment. Page 4 of 41 TRIM: Figure 2: Armidale Regional Council Local Government Area New England North West Regional Plan 2036 The New England North West Regional Plan 2036 is the NSW Government’s strategy for guiding land use planning decisions for the New England North West for the next 20 years. The New England North West consists of twelve local government areas as follows: Armidale Regional; Glen Innes Severn; Gunnedah; Gwydir; Inverell; Liverpool Plains; Moree Plains; Narrabri; Tamworth Regional; Tenterfield; Uralla and Walcha. The Regional Plan provides an overarching framework to guide subsequent and more detailed land use plans, development proposals and infrastructure funding decisions. The Plan is the product of extensive consultation with councils, stakeholders and the wider community, conducted around the draft Plan which was released in 2016. Figure 3 within the Regional Plan (refer extract below) identifies: Armidale as a “Regional City”, with additional icons depicting “Regional Airport”, “Health Services Precinct”, and “Education Precinct”; Guyra as a “Centre”; Page 5 of 41 TRIM: the New England Highway as an “Inter-regional Connection” providing access south to Sydney and Newcastle, and north to Brisbane and Toowoomba; Waterfall Way as an “Inter-regional Connection” providing access east to Coffs Harbour. Figure 3: New England North West Regional Plan Extract 2019 NSW Population Projections The NSW Population Projections estimate the future NSW population based on assumptions for fertility, life expectancy and migration. They represent possible demographic futures based on the best assessment of how the NSW population may change over time, including population size, age profile and residential location. Page 6 of 41 TRIM: The projections are a tool used by the Government in the planning of services and infrastructure such as schools, hospitals, transport and community services. Highlights from the 2019 Population Projections2 for the Armidale Regional Council local government area include: The population is estimated to increase by 7,800 people between 2016 and 2041, from 30,300 to 38,100 i.e. an average annual growth rate of 0.9%. The population is estimated to continue to grow as people move in from across the state; migration (arrivals less departures) is projected to account for about 58% of the population change over 25 years. The working age population (aged 15-64) is estimated to increase from 19,750 in 2016 to 23,400 in 2041 – a change of 3,650. The number of children aged 14 and under is estimated to increase by 1,050, from 5,600 in 2016 to 6,650 in 2041. The number of people aged 65 and over is estimated to increase from 4,950 in 2016 to 8,100 by 2041 - a change of 3,150. Total households are estimated to increase by 4,050, from 11,750 in 2016 to 15,800 in 2041; family with children (at c.36%) remain as the dominant household type, followed by lone person households (at c.31%) and couple-only households (at c.27%). Household size (average persons resident per occupied private dwelling) is estimated to decrease from 2.38 in 2016 to 2.24 in 2041. An additional 4,600 dwellings are estimated to be required over the 25 year period to 2041 if the population forms households in the same ways as in 2016. Providing for future population growth is a key consideration for the LSPS. Community Strategic Plan Consultation